The importance of the cooperation of the frigate “Provence” with ships of the Greek Navy and aircraft of the Greek Air Force in the Aegean, “which will take place in the coming days”, stressed the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos, who visited today, Friday, the frigate “Provence” of the French Navy that is chartering in the port of Piraeus.
As announced, the Minister was accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff of National Defense (GEETHA) General Konstantinos Floros and the Chief of the General Staff of the Navy (GEN) Rear Admiral Stylianos Petrakis. The Minister of National Defense was received on the FREMM type frigate by the Ambassador of France to Greece Patrick Mazonev.
The exercise, as N. Panagiotopoulos stressed, “aims to develop a common strategic culture and to further strengthen the interoperability between the Armed Forces of Greece and France, in order to address security threats and challenges in our wider region.”
Referring to the presence of the French frigate in Greece and the joint exercises with the Navy, the minister pointed out that “they are another practical proof of the strong, timeless and strategic relationship between Greece and France, in the field of defense and security.”
“Your visit”, he pointed out, “comes to add to a series of important activities of our defense cooperation that all took place this year, in January”. He continued: “I am referring to the visit we made together with my French counterpart, Minister Parley, to the Naval Group shipyards in Lorient on January 13, where the three new Belh @ arra frigates are to be built.” of the Greek Navy, which will strengthen the shield of our homeland, its sovereignty and its sovereign rights “.
“And a few days later”, he added, “with special satisfaction, pride and enthusiasm, we welcomed the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Tanagra, the first six of the 24” Rafale “, which will give our Air Force even more power and superiority to face any challenge or threat “.
“This was followed,” the minister added, “immediately after the visit of the French Chief of the General Staff of General Defense, General Burkhar, to Greece on January 21 and the signing with the Chief of General Staff, General Floros, of the Joint Text of Guidelines for Military Cooperation “.
“These important stations in our defense cooperation, reflect the strong will of our countries both bilaterally, but also as partners in the EU. “NATO members and allies, to deepen and expand their defense cooperation, as provided for in the agreement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership for Defense and Security Cooperation, which was signed in Paris last September,” he said. Panagiotopoulos.
Regarding the visit of the “Provence” frigate to Astypalea two days ago, the minister stressed that he “highlighted the strong ties between Greece and France” while he went on to say that the ship’s crew honored “Hippolytus Bisson, a French Navy officer, who lost there his life, in 1827, during the Greek Revolution “.
The frigate “Provence” sailed to Piraeus yesterday Thursday, and will remain until Monday, January 31. Today, moreover, information was provided about the mission and capabilities of the frigate, as well as a tour of its premises.
It is noted that after the departure of the ship from Piraeus, joint activities of operational training of warships and fighter aircraft of the Greek Armed Forces and the frigate “Provence” will be carried out.
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